Tuesday, March 30, 2010

This is the ritual I wrote for this Full Moon, which falls in Libra, while the sun is in Aries and which focused onj the balance inherent in Libra as well as the equinox and the relationship with Aries. I am so very grateful to the sisters who shared this ritual with me and am honoured by the inner developments it brought, especially during the night of the ritual and the two days following it.

RHIANNON: Let all who are ready to stand together in perfect love and perfect trust please take their place here among us now.

Cast Circle

KORA: Lock the door and drop the sail
Let all who are willing stand
As we cast our circle here deosil
Each hand upon a hand

RHIANNON: Please join hands with your right palm facing up and your left palm facing down as we cast our circle here tonight.

KORA: I ask you all to close your eyes and visualise the energy flowing into your right hand, being amplified through your body and being passed on through your left hand. Feel the energy tingle as you receive it from the right and give it on in turn to the left. Your hands and arms will start to buzz and even with your eyes closed you can see the bright, protective white/blue glimmer surrounding us. Now, imagine this ring of energy start to extend up towards the sky and down towards the ground. As it extends in each direction, it starts to curve and the shape of a sphere is formed. We are now surrounded by the orb of light and thus our circle is cast.

KORA: [facing the guest in the North] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the North, element of fire, manifestation of our spirit through action and passion, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. North!

NORTH: North!

[The word 'North' is then said by the person to the right of North and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the north of the altar.]

NORTH: Hail and welcome.

KORA: [facing the guest in the West] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the West, element of earth, manifestation of our spirit through practical matters, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. West!

WEST: West!

[The word 'West' is then said by the person to the right of West and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the west of the altar.]

WEST: Hail and welcome.

KORA: [facing the guest in the South] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the South, element of air, manifestation of our spirit through thought, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. South!

SOUTH: South!

[The word 'South' is then said by the person to the right of South and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the south of the altar.]

SOUTH: Hail and welcome.

KORA: [facing the guest in the East] On my word, I ask you to carry our chant to the powers of the East, element of water, manifestation of our spirit through our emotions, be with us in our circle here tonight. As I will it, so mote it be. East!

EAST: East!

[The word 'East' is then said by the person to the right of East and continues to be said by each person around the circle in an anti-clockwise direction until it has been said by each person three times. While this happens, Kora lights candle in the east of the altar.]

The word Libra comes from the Latin for ‘weighing scales’ and it is a pair of scales that the Goddess Libra holds in her hands. She is the Goddess of Justice and represents balance – either a mastery of it or a greater need for it.
Libra is the Seventh sign of the Zodiac and is sometimes referred to as the Balance. The Sun enters Libra around the time of year when day and night are of equal length due to the axis of the Earth and the Sun being roughly parallel. As we celebrate the path of the sun at the autumn equinox, this is also a very special time to be able to harness the balance in power that occurs with the moon in Libra as well.

In ancient times, the constellation of Libra was associated with the judgment of the living and the dead. Perhaps the greatest fault of this Sign is indecision as Libra individuals often find it difficult to make up their minds and strongly dislike taking sides but we will be combining the energy and action of the sun, which is currently in Aries, and asking the Goddess Libra to bless our actions to create harmony and balance in our lives.

Spellcraft – Libra Balance Mobile

Tonight, we will be crafting mobiles hung with representations of the things in our lives we want to bring into balance. We often feel pulled in different directions in our lives and have a daily need to balance our responsibilities and our interests; the things we need to do and the things we want to do; the people who depend on us, who have asked things of us and who are relying on us; our family; our friends; and all of the many other areas that are in constant battle as they compete for our time. Tonight, we will be calling on the Goddess Libra to help us create harmony in this chaos.

Please take a few pieces of paper and write something on each one to represent the things you want to balance
out in your life.

We will then construct the mobiles and attach these areas of balance. This will be a powerful symbol, filled with the energy of the full moon in Libra, and a physical reminder to ourselves that we can create balance if we focus on what we need to do and make sure that we are not putting too much into any one area and thereby creating an imbalance.

Meditation

Please take a few moments to get comfortable. Ensure your back is straight to facilitate even breathing and your feet, legs and hands are resting comfortably.

Allow your breathing to deepen as you begin to relax. Bring your focus in on the movement of air in and out of your lungs. Know that you are completely safe as you inhale slowly, filling your lungs and taking in as much air as is comfortable for you. Pause for a moment before breathing out and as you release your breath, feel the tension sliding out of your body as well. Continue to breathe in and out deeply, slowly drawing in air as you inhale, pausing for a moment, then slowing releasing that air as you exhale. Keep this rhythm going and enjoy the peace and quiet that is beginning to settle in your mind and in your body.

As you are releasing all worries and thoughts of the mundane world, notice how your face feels completely relaxed. The muscles around your eyes and your mouth are soft and care free. You can hear the noises of the outside world but there is nothing there that needs your attention right now. Feel how relaxed your shoulders are becoming with each breath out and let the world keep turning as you take a few minutes just for yourself.
Now, notice the symmetry in your body, how you are created in perfect balance as a creature of supreme harmony in design. From the top of your head, down your face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach, hips, legs, knees, feet and toes, you are a living, breathing child of a divine and balanced universe. Allow the boundaries of your body to blur as you become one with all creation through this connection and take a few moments to float comfortably in the space that is you.

While you are floating there, you start to notice soft colours glowing around you. All around the edge of your vision the colours seem to fade in and out in hues of pink, blue, ivory, green, silver, yellow. Each time a patch of colour dissipates, it comes back after a few moments even more brightly that before. These colours are all so real and so unique, it’s like you can actually feel, smell and taste each one as it materialises before you. What does each colour remind you of? What sensations are you feeling when each colour appears? They are all so different but each one brings a pleasant and comfortable feeling and it’s like you could almost wrap yourself inside that feeling and be happy there forever.

As you are enjoying these sensations, you notice a tiny flicker of light far, far away. As you turn your attention to the place where the light appeared, it glistens again briefly before disappearing only to reappear a moment later. This time it shines for a little longer, like it is gaining strength, like it can feel your gaze and is being drawn to you. There is a beautiful peace in this light and even though you were enjoying the feeling of the colours surrounding you, what you want now more than anything else is to experience this new, bright, pure, white light.

The light continues to grow as it gets closer and closer to you. Soon you can see that it is the unmistakeable form of a woman and you know in your heart that this is the Goddess Libra. Her form is stately and proud, yet kind and compassionate. You can begin to make out the shape of her long flowing robes and her entire dress appears to be made of the colours of light that you were enjoying just moments ago – oh, what would it feel like to be able to wear those colours the way she does?

More and more lines start to appear in this vision before you. Her golden, flowing locks of hair stream out around and behind her as if lifted by a gentle breeze. Her eyes look like two pieces of pure blue/green tourmaline and they are fixed intently yet lovingly directly on you. You can feel yourself rising towards this figure and you know that in moments you will stand perfectly before her.

When she has almost reached you, you notice that where she usually holds her scales, she now holds your spellcraft balance mobile. It, too, glows with her vibrancy and you can see it is charged with her energy. She begins to raise her arm slowly so that the mobile is in line with her face, then her lips gently part and she breathes a sweet, soft blessing upon the papers. She does this again and again, one breath for each area you are seeking balance in, and you know that it is her will that your wishes here are granted.

Once she has done this, she lowers the mobile again and you can now see her lips moving. You can’t hear her voice at first but you understand what she is saying. “I am Libra, Goddess of Justice, and I bring you the blessing of balance and harmony in all you seek”. You keep watching her lips move and instinctively understand and listen intently to the message she has for you.

Now, Libra invites you to talk to her. Do you have any questions that you would like to ask her for she is willing to hear them and respond to you in kind?

The time has come for you to take the responsibility for your wishes. Libra raises her arm and hands you the mobile you have made. As you reach your own arm out before you to take it, you can feel the glow of her energy tingling through your hand. You take the mobile and you can see that she has already started to draw back. She now holds her own scales again for she has her own duties to continue with in the universe but as she fades, you see her raise one hand to her lips then extend it towards you to send you a parting kiss through the air as she goes.

You continue to watch her fading form until she is only the most minute speck of light in the far distance once more. You feel calm, yet confident, peaceful, yet excited, but most of all you feel loved.

Again those patches of gently pulsating colours attract your attention and you watch as they continue to fade in an out all around you. Each colour seems to have the same feel as it did before, the same taste, the same smell, but it is somehow more developed than it was earlier. You realise that now that you have connected with these colours, they will always be part of you and you will be able to experience them again at any time you wish.
For now, however, you know that it is time to return. Your breathing is still gentle and peaceful and you start to take a few deeper breaths, filling your lungs with air and coming back to yourself slowly, bit by bit, with every breath out. You again feel the symmetry in your body from your toes, feet, knees, legs, hips, stomach, chest, arms, shoulders, neck and face. You feel completely relaxed and rejuvenated as you start to move your fingers and perhaps gently stretch and yawn as you come back completely and when you are ready you can open your eyes.

[Sharing about the meditation.]

Cakes and Ale

RHIANNON: May the Goddess Libra be among us and bless these cakes and ale for good fortune and good balance in us all. Blessed be.

ALL: Blessed be.

Releasing the Goddess

KORA: Goddess Libra, fair and just
In perfect love and perfect trust
We thank you for your presence here tonight
And for lending your energy to our sacred rite
Blessed be

ALL: Blessed be

Releasing the Quarters

[All face North]

NORTH: [personal choice of words to release the power of the North then extinguish the north candle on the altar]

[All face East]

EAST: [personal choice of words to release the powers of the East then extinguish the east candle on the altar]

[All face South]

SOUTH: [personal choice of words to release the powers of the South then extinguish the south candle on the altar]

[All face West]

WEST: [personal choice of words to release the powers of the West then extinguish the west candle on the altar]

This poem or incantation can be found with various adjustments and has been credited to a number of different sources (where any citation is provided at all). The version below is as it was taught to me and as I use it at this time.